People are now looking ways to fight this problem of stress. Some people take help of drugs to control the stress issue but the side effects of drugs create more problems rather than solving one. Exercise has been proven as a natural solution to the problem of stress with no side effects. In certain cases of other psychological problems combining exercise and music can be helpful.
Effects on Mental Performance: Researches have also shown that both music and exercise combined together have positive effects on cognitive abilities. In a research including 33 men and women in the final weeks of a cardiac rehabilitation program after bypass surgery, angioplasty or cardiac catheterization, the effects of classical music and exercise were studied. All participants were asked to complete a verbal fluency test before and after two separate sessions of exercising on a treadmill. Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons', a classical music piece, was used to judge the effects of music together with exercise on cognitive abilities among other music items. The results proved that both music and exercise create a positive impact. "Exercise seems to cause positive changes in the nervous system, and these changes may have a direct effect on cognitive ability," Charles Emery, the study's lead author and a professor of psychology at Ohio State University said. "Listening to music may influence cognitive function through different pathways in the brain. The combination of music and exercise may stimulate and increase cognitive arousal while helping to organize cognitive output.' Emery conducted the study with Evana Hsiao and Scott Hill, both with Ohio State, and David Frid of Pfizer, Inc. ('a Little Music with Exercise Boosts Brain Power').
Current Trends
Use of different music genres with different exercises, whether aerobic, weight training, Pilates etc. has given way to new and exciting experiments. For example, martial arts, dance and African and Brazilian music combination is used to make a new style called Capoeira. "The music kind of drives it, says Feamster, group fitness instructor and personal trainer in Chicago, noting capoeira's...
Participants might find themselves moving easily to the upbeat music" (Henderson, 2005).
Conclusions
Exercise boosts feel-good brain chemicals called endorphins and studies and researches show that music definitely helps in the work out. In many researches involving groups working out with music and without music, participants working out with music have found the exercise time more enjoyable and relaxing as compared to those exercising without music. The exercise has also have a moderate to high effect to heart beat according to the pace of the music being played. Different music genres have also been known to have different effects on different people for instance; classical music has been scientifically proven to slow down the brain wave and pop or dance music induces movement but the research with respect to different effects of different genres with exercises has not been conclusive but one thing is sure that moderate physical activity with music is good for everyone.
References
Henderson, S. (August, 2005). The Rhythm of Capoeira: Aerobic Workout Combines Cultural Music and Dance for an Effective Exercise. Ebony. 60(10): 94+.
The Effect of Music on Exercise', Retrieved on September 26, 2007 at http://www.anselm.edu/internet/psych/theses/2004/hall/webpage/
Morris, a. Myers, S. Schaumburg, L. Schrage, K. And Veasey, M. (2006). The Perceived Effects of Music on Exercise Performance. Retrieved on September 26, 2007 at http://clearinghouse.missouriwestern.edu/manuscripts/541.asp
Little Music with Exercise Boosts Brain Power, Study Suggests' Retrieved on September 26, 2007 at http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/hartsong.htm
Parncutt, R. & McPherson, G. (2002). The Science & Psychology of Music Performance: Creative Strategies for Teaching and Learning. Oxford University Press: New York.
Frances, R. & Dowling, J. (1988). The Perception of Music. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates: Hillsdale, NJ.
